#1691201 - 08/17/05 01:17 PM
What are you working on?
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Brian Fox
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Registered: 08/02/05
Posts: 76
Loc: San Mateo, CA
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Curious -- What are some of the things you all have been working on recently? Any practice tips you can share?
For a while, I was on a big transcription kick, just trying to keep my ear in shape, transcribing mostly odd-time Balkan melodies.
BF
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#1691202 - 08/17/05 02:12 PM
Re: What are you working on?
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Quinn
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Registered: 10/18/01
Posts: 626
Loc: Oakland, CA
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Hi Brian,
I've been reading bass clef for a long time, but I'm a pretty mediocre sight reader. After some reflection, I realized that my problem stems from a lack of practice at reading in higher positions, so I'm currently focusing on sight reading in fifth position and above. After I finish working through my position studies method book, I'm moving on to The Real Book.
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#1691203 - 08/17/05 02:17 PM
Re: What are you working on?
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C. Alexander C.
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Registered: 06/11/01
Posts: 5108
Loc: Brighton, UK
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Singing and playing. A really enjoyable challenge and not as impossible as it initially seemed! (Suspect being able to play the drums helps). Makes learning my own basslines for songs that I've written a much more rewarding task too...
Alex
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#1691204 - 08/17/05 02:51 PM
Re: What are you working on?
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Brian Fox
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Registered: 08/02/05
Posts: 76
Loc: San Mateo, CA
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Thanks for dropping in, guys!
Yeah, my sight reading isn't so hot, but I find that by doing transcriptions, my overall reading speed improves.
As for singing and playing, do you have any particular drills you do, like singing and playing counter-rhythms, or do you just pick a song and "do it to death"?
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#1691205 - 08/17/05 03:13 PM
Re: What are you working on?
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jitter
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Registered: 01/03/05
Posts: 112
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Last Friday I saw Al Jarreau and his band, and I was sooooo blown away by it, that I had to see them again on Saturday.
Everyone in the band had a solo spot in the middle of the set and the incredibly awesome bass player (Chris Walker) started to play and sing. Solo. Oh my god, what a voice, what a tasty line he played. My jaw dropped to the floor. Both, on Friday and Saturday :-)
Due to that I decided to intensify that singing&playing stuff. I don't know how C.Alex C does it, but for me it works that way:
1) Get the bass part down
2) Sing it, try to memorize the lyrics (but I still use a cheat sheet on some songs)
3) Try to bring it together by starting with a ridiculously sloooow tempo, checking out the "rhythm" between bassline and vocals.
Then something very strange happens, at least to me: I'm singing and listening to "someone" playing the bassline. It's really odd, as if someone else would be playing bass.
I started with trivial rock stuff where you mostly have to play 8ths on the root note, then stuff that's more challenging, rhythmically.
Right now I'm practicing to play and sing All Four Seasons by Sting. Due to the repetetive riff it's managable. For really crazy counter-rhythms try Spirits of the Material World (The Police) or After the Rain has Fallen (Sting).
Beatles stuff can also be tricky.
jitter
_________________________
Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.
-- Leonardo da Vinci
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#1691206 - 08/18/05 03:57 PM
Re: What are you working on?
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ClarkW
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Registered: 07/23/02
Posts: 1156
Loc: Provo/UT/USA
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I pick one song and do it to death. I find that I'm better at singing and playing when I have the lyrics absolutely down pat, so during the day gig I'll print out the lyrics on a small sheet of paper and look at it when my mind wanders (I'm a software engineer) and memorize a line or two. I'm always impressed with stage performers and singers who memorize two or three hours worth of lines and lyrics. Memorizing notes seems so much easier to me.
Back to the original question in the first post, I'm working on left hand finger independence, dexterity, endurance, and speed with some exercises I made up. My gigging schedule has me suddenly learning 2+ hours of music every other month or so for sub gigs with no regular stuff at the moment, so a little "conditioning" between those intense woodshedding moments keeps me motivated and in shape.
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#1691207 - 08/19/05 05:04 AM
Re: What are you working on?
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C. Alexander C.
MP Hall of Fame Member
Registered: 06/11/01
Posts: 5108
Loc: Brighton, UK
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I'm very new to the playing and singing thang. My current approach is to do it to death, however I suspect I need to do some more low tempo dissection on my reggae lines. The funk, rock and faux guitar parts (I'm quite a one for chordal strumming) seem much easier to sing along with.
The other challenge is rapping/talking at the same time as playing.
Alex
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#1691209 - 08/21/05 05:37 PM
Re: What are you working on?
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davio
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Registered: 12/07/04
Posts: 1812
Loc: Boston, MA
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I've been slowly hacking my way through the Bass Grimoire working every scale to death up and down in every key and every mode until I can play it as quickly and accurately as my fingers will let me...and then I move the metronome up one more click. I haven't been too diligent with it this summer so it's about time to skim back over what I've covered so far before moving on.
Doing this on electric and URB takes so much time that I sometimes forget to keep up with my technique drills and whatnot so my teacher will probably be pissed yet again once I move back on campus as he silently cries through my first lesson of the year. Ah, the joys of being a performance major.
_________________________
Mass. + moving = inertia such that happiness is true.
NUTT: ...do you feel like you'll rot away on a bassless island with warm, flat beer and ugly women with sharp teeth?
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#1691210 - 08/25/05 04:35 AM
Re: What are you working on?
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GeoffB
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Registered: 11/05/04
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Loc: UK East Midlands via Scotland
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Although I've been playing guitar & singing for 45 years, I still find it impossible to sing & play a bass line - but I'd like to.
G.
_________________________
"When the power of love overcomes the love of power the World will know Peace": Jimi Hendrix
Frank M:Back in the day you could have a trio with two people.
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#1691211 - 09/12/05 10:26 AM
Re: What are you working on?
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Danzilla
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Registered: 01/09/04
Posts: 3617
Loc: Baltimore, MD
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What am I working on? When I get the chance to practice more, I've been trying to:
1) re-establish some muscle-memory (with help from my ear) so that I'm not looking at my hands all the time
2) palm-muting. BP had an article about it about a year and a half ago; between that and some talks with Anthony Sallee (Michael W Smith, White Heart, etc) a while ago, I've been trying to find where it fits, and make it more subtle/musical in my technique.
3) sight reading. I'm horrible at it. But if I'm going to chide my son for not reading, I've got to set the example. Still takes some time, but it's coming back. Notes are good, it's the tempo thing.
4) writing. Band's got to have material.
5) find gigs so I can play more!
_________________________
"Am I enough of a freak to be worth paying to see?"- Separated Out (Marillion) My Band's website
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#1691212 - 09/19/05 06:07 AM
Re: What are you working on?
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Phil W
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Registered: 04/07/05
Posts: 9150
Loc: London, England
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- Playing (and trying to memorise) the melodies and changes to the most common jazz standards (and some personal favorites). I have a list of a hundred or so.
- Playing scales, arpeggios and improvising over the same tunes and playing them with different dynamic and rhythmic expression
- Working on ii Vs. a friend mentioned that he spent a year working on ii Vs recently.
- Ear training
- Learning material for gigs
I would love to spend some time getting into transcription (but that's not an option at present).
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#1691213 - 09/19/05 11:23 AM
Re: What are you working on?
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wraub
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Registered: 01/19/02
Posts: 4180
Loc: where it's hot and people are ...
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-Going through hours and hours of 4 track cassette recordings, deciding what material is worth re-recording, re-learning the parts, programming the parts (while doing some
re-arranging and re-composing,) and recording to 8 track dig.
Relearning the parts is harder than I thought, although fun.
Much harder in some cases than I thought it'd be.
There's actually some pretty good stuff there, along with the chaff. Surprisingly good.
I'll be busy a while. 
Peace,
wraub
_________________________
America is a nation of inertia and nostalgia, as are most nations. This does not bode well for the future. Omne Ignotum Pro Magnifico. http://www.myspace.com/wraubmusic
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#1691214 - 09/19/05 12:50 PM
Re: What are you working on?
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TShakazBlackRoots
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Registered: 02/01/04
Posts: 950
Loc: England
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What's sight reading? Joking....
Playing and singing  Mmmmh! I'm not sure I'd play my lickes well if I did both however, I'd give anything to learn to do both.
At the moment though, I 'live' finger exercises. Hours and hours. I wanna increase speed too. It's working coz I'm also learning to do adlibs. I have so many in my head....putting them in practice is my mission now.
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#1691215 - 09/20/05 01:30 PM
Re: What are you working on?
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Brian Fox
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Registered: 08/02/05
Posts: 76
Loc: San Mateo, CA
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I just got a synth, and I'm trying to work up my *GASP* synth bass chops. It's kinda freaking me out, and it makes me realize how much I rely on fingerboard patterns when writing bass lines.
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#1691216 - 09/23/05 06:26 PM
Re: What are you working on?
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Basshappi
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Registered: 06/16/03
Posts: 2684
Loc: Tucson,AZ
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Fretless
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Nothing is as it seems but everything is exactly what it is - B. Banzai
Life is what happens while you are busy playing in bands.
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#1691217 - 09/26/05 10:38 AM
Re: What are you working on?
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TShakazBlackRoots
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Registered: 02/01/04
Posts: 950
Loc: England
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Greetings all.
What is 'GASP' Brian  ....if I may ask that is.
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#1691218 - 09/26/05 11:44 AM
Re: What are you working on?
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Danzilla
MP Hall of Fame Member
Registered: 01/09/04
Posts: 3617
Loc: Baltimore, MD
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TShakaz- I'll take a guess:
Gear Acquisition Syndrome Pains; when you've finally gotten that new gear you've been GASsin' for and now it's time to find a way to make it fit into your repertoire. It passes with time and practice.
Or he's just thinking we'll be shocked and appalled that he's using a synth and not a "traditional" or P-bass. Shame on you, Brian, for thinking outside the box.
_________________________
"Am I enough of a freak to be worth paying to see?"- Separated Out (Marillion) My Band's website
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#1691219 - 09/28/05 01:23 PM
Re: What are you working on?
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TShakazBlackRoots
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Registered: 02/01/04
Posts: 950
Loc: England
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Many thanx boss....Danzilla. I'm yet to learn a few terms over here. 
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#1691220 - 09/28/05 07:13 PM
Re: What are you working on?
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Brian Fox
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Registered: 08/02/05
Posts: 76
Loc: San Mateo, CA
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Yup - Danzilla got it right on his second guess. But it's not that the guys from down the hall at Keyboard have brainwashed me -- I just thought it might be good for me to expand my knowledge of a keyboard, because I've been thinking with a fretboard since I started playing. Kinda like teaching yourself to be ambidextrous, I guess. I'm finding that my timing absolutely sucks on keys, though.
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#1691221 - 09/29/05 10:40 AM
Re: What are you working on?
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TShakazBlackRoots
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Registered: 02/01/04
Posts: 950
Loc: England
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Ambi what? ambidextrous
Brian oh Brian....to make me reach out for the Thesarus of may be the Oxford dictionary  .
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#1691222 - 09/29/05 05:28 PM
Re: What are you working on?
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wraub
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Registered: 01/19/02
Posts: 4180
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Tshaka- Ambidextrous means posessing equal dexterity with both hands, or at least being able to do things with your "other" hand well enough.
Like left handed people who write/shoot/play bass righty. Or attempt to learn fingerboard and keyboard equally proficiently...
Peace,
wraub
_________________________
America is a nation of inertia and nostalgia, as are most nations. This does not bode well for the future. Omne Ignotum Pro Magnifico. http://www.myspace.com/wraubmusic
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#1691223 - 10/01/05 11:20 PM
Re: What are you working on?
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ChrisOfDoom
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Registered: 08/03/04
Posts: 634
Loc: Seattle
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Lately I have been busy learning my new bands material. Also I have been trying to work on my basic right hand technique, my guitar player even noticed the improvement, so that was a nice little boost.
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#1691224 - 10/02/05 12:38 PM
Re: What are you working on?
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TShakazBlackRoots
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Registered: 02/01/04
Posts: 950
Loc: England
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Dexterity huh? Thanx Wraub!! 
My friend Jonathan is a 'freak' too....good with both hands. Writing etc..That must come handy with his piano playing. Wish he could play bass or guitar. 
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